In 1962, Verda Freeman Welcome became the first Black woman elected to a State Senate. Later, she became the legislative backer for the United States’ first ethnic commission, the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC). In celebration of the MCAAHC’s 50th Anniversary we are launching a new exhibition, Verda’s Place: An Homage to a Valiant Woman.

This cafe-themed exhibition is a direct response to places where Verda Welcome was unwelcome. Through memorabilia, photographs, and archival documents, Verda’s Place encourages interaction and participation to move beyond the exhibition space and into the communities of those who visit. Come learn more about this valiant woman and her politics as we launch this new, interactive exhibition.

In 1969, Senate Bill #185 established the Commission on Negro History and Culture “…to conduct a study of all proposals to create a better understanding and knowledge of Negro history and culture and…make a recommendation to the Governor…[regarding] the legislative enactments which would be necessary to carry out such proposals”. The creation of the Commission was initiated by Senator Verda F. Welcome and historian Dr. Benjamin Quarles, and it became the first ethnic commission in the country.

Fifty years later, the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC), has surpassed the original instructive. MCAAHC’s current mission to discover, document, preserve, collect, and promote Maryland’s African American heritage is demonstrated through its educational and public programs, preservation and funding programs, and the collections housed by the Banneker-Douglass Museum (BDM).

This exhibit showcases ephemera, photographs, and archival documents to detail the history and impact of MCAAHC. Doing the Work invites visitors to learn about the Commission’s impact on their local communities and consider their personal role in preserving Maryland’s African American heritage.